Scrap Metal Recycling

Here at Cash for Trash, we have many years of experience working in the recycling industry. Many of our workers have been here for years and know all the ins and outs of the industry. With this kind of experience, Cash for Trash provides a level of expertise that cannot be matched. Call or visit us today for all your scrap metal recycling needs.

What Is Scrap Metal Recycling?

Scrap metal recycling is a process as well as being the basis for a powerful industry. Scrap metal recycling involves the recovery and processing of scrap metal from end-of-life products or structures, as well as from manufacturing scrap, so that it can be introduced as a raw material in the production of new goods. It can be recycled repeatedly with no degradation of its properties. It provides the raw material for new products, while offering a much lower carbon footprint and more efficient utilization of resources than new material.

While ferrous metal contains some degree of iron (and in fact, its name is derived from the latin term meaning iron), non-ferrous metal does not contain iron as a component. Nonferrous scrap includes aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, zinc and others.

The Scrap Metal Recycling Process

The scrap metal process involves several steps. It starts with collection. At the micro level, scrap metal collectors pick up small quantities of scrap for sale to scrap yards. Metal is also recovered from larger generators by by larger scrap dealers, or through curbside recycling.

Metals are then sorted, baled for shipment, shredded, and then melted. A purification process can involve the use of electrolysis, powerful magnet systems or other technologies.

Benefits of Recycling

Aside from the diversion of material from landfills, other important benefits of metal recycling versus the creation of virgin metal include a reduction in energy consumption as well as in the use of other materials. For example recycled aluminum requires 95 percent less energy, while copper needs 90 percent less, and steel 56 percent less. Additionally, the recycling of one ton of steel avoids the use of 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal and 120 pounds of limestone.

Scrap Metal Recovery Volumes and Recycling Rates

While the volume of ferrous metals recovered is much greater, nonferrous metals generate more industry revenue due to their greater value, and as such are aggressively recycled.

The top categories of nonferrous scrap metal recovery in 2015 included:

5 million metric tons of aluminum

1.8 million metric tons of copper

1.2 million metric tons of lead

175,000 metric tons of zinc

622,000 metric tons of nickel/stainless steel

The recycling rate is a very important measure in terms of landfill diversion. Scrap metal has been recycled for thousands of years because it has been long recognized as being a more efficient process than mining and processing new ore. Recycling rates for metal are generally high, due to its value. For example, ferrous metals have a recovery rate as follows:

for cars: 106 percent

for appliances: 90 percent

for steel cans: 66.8 percent

for structural steel: 98 percent

for reinforcement steel: 70 percent

Maintaining the recycling rate for predominantly consumer goods can be more challenging, such as in the case of aluminum beverage containers. In jurisdictions that have beverage container deposit laws, the recovery rate is much higher. For example, in British Columbia, which has a 5 cent deposit, the recovery rate was 90.4 percent (2014).

Wondering how much you can get for your scrap metal? Simply call us (613-831-2900), or see the prices here. ?♻️

Recycling Rates Must Improve

However, there is still much work to be done in raising the recycling rate for metals. For example, a U.N. report has pointed out that less than one-third of 60 metals reviewed have a recovery rate of more than 50 percent. The report made recommendations to improve recycling rates, including:

In industrialized countries, addressing the fact that many metal-containing products are ‘hibernating’ in places likes drawers and closets and others, such as mobile phones, are all too often ending up in dustbins

The ongoing improvement of recycling technologies and collection systems to keep pace with “ever more complex products created with an increasingly diverse range of metals and alloys.”

While metal recycling has been a success story, there is still much more work to be done to ensure that recycling rates improve.

The Benefits of Recycling

There are many benefits to recycling your scrap metal. Recycling metal:

♻️ Prevents it from ending up as landfill and damaging the environment

♻️ Is environmentally sustainable as it limits the strain on our natural resources

♻️ Helps conservation of natural resources

♻️ Conserves energy that may otherwise be used to produce metals through mining

♻️ Reduces greenhouse emissions

♻️ Reduces your carbon footprint

WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR SCRAP METAL IS WORTH?

We are open 7 days a week for your convenience. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff will help you with whatever it takes to make your experience with Cash for Trash hassle-free and enjoyable. Whether it be helping you unload your appliances, sort your non-ferrous or give your puppy a treat on the scale, Cash for Trash knows Customer Satisfaction comes first.